# New Studio Ghibli Artbook Reveals Original Princess Mononoke Concept Hayao Miyazaki’s early vision for the film resembled a feudal Beauty and the Beast. - **Source:** [SoraNews24](https://soranews24.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-05 - **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/f1408ae5-3d85-4905-a658-2b0fb8f33614 ## Original Concept Revealed A new artbook from the Hayao Miyazaki Image Board Series unveils the director's initial vision for Princess Mononoke. Before the grim, complex narrative audiences recognize today, the project was conceived as a feudal Japanese adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, featuring a protective cat samurai and a young girl as protagonists. ## Extensive Archival Collection Published by Iwanami Shoten, the seventh volume of this series spans 184 pages and contains 258 distinct pieces of artwork. Notably, 90 of these illustrations have never been publicly displayed before. This collection serves as a historical record of the film's development, contrasting the original concept with the final 1997 theatrical release. ## Shift in Creative Direction Miyazaki began developing the initial story following the 1992 release of Porco Rosso. By 1993, he had already produced text and illustrations for a book titled Princess Mononoke. However, he eventually concluded that this narrative approach felt too stale and old-fashioned, prompting a significant departure from his original, softer fairy-tale vision. ## The Turning Point The creative pivot occurred in 1995 while Miyazaki was working on the animated music video for the song On Your Mark. During this period, he became convinced that creators should not be limited by their past work. This realization directly fueled the darker, more mature tone that defined the final Princess Mononoke film. ## Publication and Pricing The artbook is scheduled for release on December 3 and is priced at 6,000 yen, approximately 38 US dollars. Fans can purchase the volume directly through the official Iwanami Shoten website. The publication includes a personal endorsement from Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the popular manga series One Piece, featured on the obi. ## Historical Context of Development The transition from a Beauty and the Beast style story to the final film highlights Miyazaki's iterative design process. By documenting both the discarded concepts and the final production art, the book provides a rare look at how Studio Ghibli projects evolve from initial brainstorming sessions into globally recognized cinematic masterpieces. ## Visual Narrative Evolution The inclusion of early sketches allows viewers to see the evolution of character designs and thematic elements. While some illustrations will appear familiar to fans of the finished movie, others showcase entirely different character dynamics. This contrast underscores the radical shift in tone that occurred during the film's lengthy pre-production phase. ## Significance for Animation Fans This volume acts as a definitive archive for animation historians and Ghibli enthusiasts. By preserving these early, unused concepts, the book offers insight into the creative struggles behind one of the most acclaimed animated films in history. It demonstrates the necessity of abandoning initial ideas to achieve a more profound artistic impact. ## Sources covering this story - https://soranews24.com/2026/11/05/princess-mononoke-was-going-to-look-totally-different-new-studio-ghibli-artbook-shows/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._